Tiger Tales: Linsey Button

Senior Linsey Button finished this softball season with a .262 batting average, 4 home runs, 28 RBI and 26 runs as DePauw was regional runner up in the NCAA Tournament. She also was named All-NCAC First Team.

Button hails from Ballwin, Mo. and is a graduate of Lafayette High School. She likes to watch TV, hang out with friends and is enjoying her last semester in college.

Linsey is majoring in Kinesiology and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Next year she will be attending physical therapy school at Northwestern University.

Q: What is your most memorable athletic moment?

A: That would be beating Trine in regionals last year because we came into regionals as the underdogs and no one thought we would make it out. They run-ruled us twice in the regular season, and then when it counted we beat them in the postseason and got to move on while ending their season.

Q: How would you describe your team atmosphere?

A: Intense but goofy. We know how to win and how to have the fire to win, but we are probably the weirdest team on campus, and we know how to be ourselves. That makes it fun and we win, which makes it that much better.

Q: What is the role of the team/coach on your life at DePauw?

A: It defined DePauw for me as my entire life here. I spent 90 percent of my time at softball and school, so it was a big part of my career. They helped me grow as a person throughout my four years here.

Q: Why did you choose DePauw?

A: I wanted somewhere close to home so this isn't too bad; it's only 3.5 hours away. I also wanted somewhere where it was academically challenging, which would help prepare for grad school. Similarly, I wanted a competitive school athletically. So, DePauw was able to fit all those aspects.

Q: Do you like winning or hate losing more?

A: I guess I like winning more, but I also don't mind losing if you play well. If they earn the win, I don't mind losing because there is nothing you can do about it, but I guess if you beat yourself, that's the worst.

Q: Do you have any superstitions?

A: Yes, I do not change my nail polish if I am hitting well. So, if I am not hitting well, then I take off my nail polish and repaint my nails, but if I'm hitting well, then I can't repaint them for awhile.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote?

A: I think it's "Amateurs practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can't get it wrong." I like that because everyone can get something right once, but to know you are really, really good at it, there has to be a way to not get it wrong. That's when you know you have mastered something.

Q: If you were to be stranded on an island, what three things would you want?

A: Mashed potatoes, chapped stick and Netflix.

Q: Do you have a favorite athlete past or present?

A: My favorite athlete is David Eckstein from the Saint Louis Cardinals because he was not the most athletic player on the Cardinals' team, probably one of the scrappiest players, but he got the job done and he always worked hard.

Q: What is something people may not know about you?

A: I named my dog Rory after Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls, because it is my favorite show, and I love the name Rory.

Q: If you rubbed a lamp and a genie appeared and gave three wishes, what would you request?

A: All my student loans would be non-existent from here until the end of graduate school along with my friends' loans as well. I would also like season tickets to Cardinals' games behind home plate. Finally, I would love to meet Thomas Rhett.

Q: What is your favorite Disney movie?

A: Frozen because it's really fun! When I saw it for the first time, I laughed the whole time. I was 20 years old and thought it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen, and I saw it four times in theatres.

Q: What advice would you give to younger players on the team or to the incoming class?

A: To always be in the present moment because you never think you are going to be in the seniors' shoes until you actually are there. The moment creeps up on you when you are a senior and everyone is asking what you are going to do next year, where you are going to be living and all that stuff. You never think it's going to be you until it is. So, don't just focus on school and softball, do things outside of that because those are the times you are going to remember.